Pub of the Season Summer 2023 - The Ale Stop, Buxton
The High Peak, Tameside and N.E. Cheshire CAMRA Pub of the Season for Summer 2023 is the Ale Stop on Chapel Street in Buxton.
This former converted wine shop was the first micropub in Buxton and opened nine years ago. The current owner, Richard Andrew, has been there six years and has continued its aim as a good community pub offering continually changing beers from microbreweries (both near and far) on four handpumps; also two or three boxed ciders. Richard’s objective is to bring to Buxton beers and ciders which are rarely seen in the town. The Ale Stop has always had a music theme which is reflected in the decor plus an eclectic choice of background music on vinyl is played, with live music events taking place on at least one Sunday each month.
On a wet Saturday in August, all too common this Summer, CAMRA members and local patrons met for the presentation, which was made to Richard Andrew by High Peak Branch member Geoff Williamson.
Pub of the Season Winter 2023 - Jakes Ale House
The High Peak, Tameside and North East Cheshire CAMRA Winter Pub of the Season award goes to Jake’s Ale House in Romiley.
This micropub continues to serve quality real ales from its 5 handpumps. The ales change constantly. They usually include a local ale, guests from around the country and a dark
beer.
The bar is welcoming to all. As well as the cask beer, there are 5 keg lines, a gin bar and a selection of international bottled beers. This all fits into a fairly small bar area. The original curved shop windows survive and draw you in as well as providing character. Inside there is warmth provided by the use of wood and mostly booth seating. There is a smaller room at the back with a log burning stove which is open at the weekends or when busy. The bar is now owned and run by Cheryl Shaw. She has continued to run a great bar while making improvements to the decoration and appearance.
Pictured is Cheryl accepting the award from Peter Mitchell, Branch Secretary.
Beer Scoring
Submitting Beer Scores
Although the percentage of our Branch Members submitting scores is higher than the national average, we are keen to increase this further. CAMRA have put together a couple of useful videos, each about 3 minutes long, one explaining why it is important to submit beer scores, and the other explaining how this is done. Members can view these by clicking on the links below.
- Why submit beer scores - https://youtu.be/NBkd4--5pxo
- How to submit a beer score - https://youtu.be/TSgRLWj7q20
Please can I encourage Members who try a variety of ales when visiting a pub to submit a score for each beer they try.
Pub of the Season Autumn 2022 - Harewood Arms
Torrside Brewery Scoops Gold
Torrside brewery is celebrating after scooping gold for the Beer of the Festival at the recent Stockport Beer and Cider Festival. From a selection of around 200 beers, Torrside Brewing’s Bardo, a 9% Imperial Stout, was voted the favourite tipple by thirsty drinkers.
But thanks to the pandemic, the beer nearly didn’t get brewed. In early 2020, Nathan Pratt, of the Sheffield Homebrew Club, won a first prize for Limbo, his 5.5% stout, at the Stockport & S. Manchester (SSM) CAMRA homebrew competition. The reward was to visit a commercial brewery and brew the beer so it could be sold to the public.
Club of the Year 2022 - Buxworth War Memorial Club
Sue McGrath, licensee of Bugsworth War Memorial Club, was presented with the High Peak, Tameside & NE Cheshire Club of the Year 2022 award by High Peak CAMRA chairman Ben Zwierink in May 2022.
This excellent club also won the award in 2019 and 2020, and acts as a real centre of the local community.
Special Award for Cellar Man
Saturday 14 May was warm and sunny as members of the High Peak Tameside & NE Cheshire branch of CAMRA, joined by a small party from Stockport & South Manchester, took the train to Chinley for a special presentation to cellar manager Barney Hanna at the Old Hall Inn. It’s only a short walk from Chinley station down to Whitehough and the Old Hall, and its sister pub the Paper Mill across the road. Both pubs are known for the quality of the cask beers. This is down to the sterling work of Barney, who is an all-round beer enthusiast, and the award was in recognition of his efforts.
Pub of the Season Summer 2022 - Beer Shed
High Peak, Tameside and North-East Cheshire Branch members recently voted the Beer Shed micro pub in New Mills as its Branch Pub of the Summer 2022.
Pub of the Season Spring 2022 - Gillery
We recently selected the Gillery in Mossley as its Pub of the Season for Spring 2022.The pub opened in March 2020 and has gone from strength to strength since. A one-room bar, with a small side room suitable for small meetings, is complemented by a pleasant outdoor drinking area. Its previous history as a bank is amply evidenced by the architecture of the building, and the polished wooden fittings and wainscoting. The Gillery is ideally situated outside the railway station and on the bus routes from Lower to Upper Mossley. Open from Wednesday to Sunday 12-12, it has four handpumps, and is a good outlet for the local Millstone beers, amongst others.
Pub of the Year 2022 - Silly Country
High Peak, Tameside & North East Cheshire Branch members chose the Silly Country in the centre of Droylsden as their Pub of the Year 2022.
It is true to say that, since opening, the pub has much increased the beer range available in the Droylsden area, and is very popular with locals and others alike. A changing range of beers is offered on four handpumps, with a real cider available on a fifth. This is a pub which is doing an excellent job, with excellent beers and is well deserving of the award. It’s well worth taking the time to visit. Silly Country is situated right in the centre of Droylsden, almost opposite the Metrolink stop and close to several bus routes. Fairfield railway station is a 15-minute walk away.
The photograph shows the certificate being presented by Ben Zwierink the branch chair (third left) to owners Katy, Paul and Drew and members of the staff at an event held at the pub on Saturday 26 March 2022
Cider Pub of the Year 2021 and 30 Years in the Good Beer Guide
The Buffet Bar at Stalybridge Station was the venue for a rare branch occasion when we presented the bar with a double award. One of these was a first for the branch as we presented the Buffet Bar with a certificate celebrating thirty years presence in the GBG.Not many pubs in the Uk can claim that !
Addtionally, we also presented the bar with our Cider Pub of the Year 2021 award.
Pictured are Phil Shaw and Lyndsey Walker the co-managers receiving the awards